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Health Behavior Science FAQ's

What is health behavior science?

Health behavior science majors explore and analyze how human actions, cognitions, communications, and environment affect health, chronic disease, relationships and quality of life across the lifespan. More specifically they work to promote healthy lifestyles through education, assessing needs, counseling and coaching individuals, developing and implementing programs, policy change, creating media and materials, and evaluating the impact and outcome of their efforts

What do health behavior science professionals do?

Health behavior science professionals work within a variety of settings and among a diversity of population groups:

Within medical facilities they work one-on-one with patients or families, or engage in efforts to reach out to a community or an at-risk population.

Within college settings they work to promote student health via residence life, recreation and health programs, or counseling and educational programs.

In public health settings they work primarily with local and state public health departments, and often serve on statewide councils or national committees that address specific health issues.

In non-profits, they work to address the health issues of interest to the organization via program development, needs assessment, marketing and communication, and community outreach. Within worksites they work in wellness or worksite health promotion programs, medical offices, and employee assistance programs.

Due to their skills and training, health behavior science majors also work well in health-related businesses that provide a specific product or service. In this capacity, marketing and market research or delivery of a specific service is common.

What issues do health behavior science majors address?

Heart disease

Obesity

Diabetes

Tobacco

Cancer prevention and management

Global health

Personal fitness

Health promotion

Stress management

Aging

Mental health

Maternal and child health

Teenage pregnancy

HIV/AIDS and sexual health

Drug and alcohol abuse

Obstetrics

What are some of the tasks performed in these positions?

The particulars of this career depend on the chosen specialty. The following are some examples of the types of work health behavior science majors do:

Planning health promotion and education activities

Providing screening services for individuals

Coaching or counseling individuals so that they can obtain optimal health

Developing and implementing public media or social marketing campaigns

Conducting pre-program and post-program surveys

Conducting program evaluations to determine impact and effectiveness

What are the key objectives of a health behavior career?

Understanding of dynamic development—health behavior science majors examine how people and groups grow and change over time. They learn to apply theories to understand the behavioral choices people make, as well as to guide their efforts to promote health and reduce disease.

Health knowledge—students must understand mechanisms for achieving optimal health, as well as mechanisms that lead to chronic disease.

Facilitating Behavior Change—students acquire skills to assist individuals in coordinating a comprehensive biological, psychological and social approach to behavior change and health.

What are some of the other key skills that lead to attainment of these objectives?

Assessing individual and community needs

Planning and developing health promotion programs

Implementing health promotion programs

Managing programs and personnel

Evaluating health promotion programs

Acting to change health policies

Building coalitions

Identifying resources and making referrals

Developing audio, visual, electronic, Internet, and print materials

What are some related skills that are valuable in a health behavior career?

Presentation and Writing skills—must develop the ability to express their knowledge, research, or opinions in a clear, concise, and engaging manner

Critical thinking and problem solving—must be able to see patterns that emerge in individual behavior, as well as among population groups, and identify those factors that are contributing to illness or health.

Interpersonal communication skills—must be able to communicate, educate, and motivate others through the communication with individuals and groups.

Data analysis skills--must be able to utilize math and statistics to analyze data sets to determine what is causing a behavior or health outcome, or to determine the impact of a program, or to determine the health needs of individuals and communities.

What courses are within the health behavior science major?

Personal Health Management

Anatomy and Physiology

Health Behavior Theory and Assessment

Nutritional Concepts

Nutrition and Activity

Behavior Change Strategies

Physical Activity Behavior

Development of Health Promotion Programs

Research Methods and Statistics for Health Behavior Sciences

Health Behavior Science Internship

What are some of the personal qualities of a successful health behavior science professional?

When you embark on a degree path in Health Behavior Science, you should consider whether your personal qualities are suited for this career. Some important questions to ask yourself are:

Do I care if people are healthy?

Am I interested in how we use and care for our bodies?

Am I concerned about how people eat, exercise, act or think as it relates to their well-being?

Am I interested in helping people improve their health and quality of life?

Am I concerned about how our environment can impact our individual and societal health?

Am I interested in working as an educator, researcher, or manager?

Do I like working with people?

Do I work well with others in a collaborative manner for a single purpose?

Would I consider myself a "people person"?

If you answered yes to the above questions, then Health Behavior Science and the Health Promotion Master’s Degree Program are both a good fit for you.

What can you do with a degree in health behavior science?

Wellness Program Coordinator

Community Health Educator

Case Manager Specialist

Program Coordinator

Community Resource Educator

Health Promotion Coordinator

Cancer Community Educator

Health Fitness Specialist

Health Coach

Health Educator

Manager Health and Wellness

Health Promotion Manager

Health Promotion Director

Worksite Health Specialist

Risk Reduction Program Coordinator

Account Manager

Director/Program Promotions

Event Coordinator

Instructor/Teacher

Marketing Representative

Marketing Services Coordinator

Market Researcher

Social Marketing Professional

Operations Coordinator/Manager

Health Policy Analyst

Public Health Professional

Epidemiologist

Exercise Specialist

Project Director

Nutritionist

What are some sample work settings?

Alternative health care center

Assisted living facility

Birthing center

Chiropractic office

Community centers

Dance studio

Dentist office

Hospitals

Health insurance company

International health organization

Mental health facility

Non-profit organization

Nursing care facility

Pharmaceutical sales industry

Pharmacy

Private health clinic

Public health agencies

Rehabilitation institutes

Research center

Spa/health/fitness club

Substance abuse clinic

University/college health center

Youth center

Multiple private health product/service businesses

Government Departments

Air Force Medical Services

Army Medical Department

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Department of Agriculture

Department of Labor

Department of Social Services

Department of Veteran Affairs

National Institutes of Health

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Office of Personnel Management Employee Health Programs

Office of Public Health and Science

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs)

Office of the Surgeon General

State and Territorial Health Departments

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

What is the career potential for people with this degree?

United States Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects behavioral science careers will grow by about 10% through the year 2016. As more behavioral scientists demystify their work, many more businesses and organizations will carve out room in their budgets to explore ways that they can help them achieve their goals. Others predict expected growth by 18% through 2018. Growth is being primarily driven by the rising cost of health care.

How do I prepare for the health behavior science at the University of Delaware?

In your junior or senior year of high school, take the SAT and have your scores sent to the University of Delaware.

You will have to take courses in the university core curriculum areas required of all undergraduates in addition to your major courses. Talk with your high school counselor about preparing for college, including the entrance exams (SAT and/or ACT) that you should take beginning your junior year.

In your senior year, submit your application for admission by the deadline on the application (typically between December 1 and January 15 depending on requested consideration) and request that your high school transcript be sent to the UD admissions office.

Within the Health Behavior Science major students are required to complete a minor. Minors provide an opportunity to specialize in a specific discipline related to the major, AND position you better for jobs within the field of health behavior science. Options include:

Public Health

Business Administration

Coaching Science

Disability Studies

Entrepreneurial Studies

Leisure Service Management

Nutrition

Psychology

Strength and Conditioning

Exercise Science

Leadership

Your choice of minor will depend on what your career goals and aspirations are. Your academic advisor can help you make this choice during your first or second year of college.

How do I plan my path at UD in the health behavior science major?

Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition faculty members will help you each semester to select the courses you need to take to obtain your degree and achieve your career goals. You should meet with a faculty member (who you will be assigned to once you are accepted into the major) each semester. If you are not in the major and wish to talk to someone about the program please contact Sue Coffing, Academic Advisor, at scoffing@udel.edu or 302-831-2252.